जह्नुjahnuN. of an ancient king, son of Suhotra, who adopted the river Gaṅgā as his daughter. [The river Ganges, when…
Name of an ancient king, son of Suhotra, who adopted the river Gaṅgā as his daughter. [The river Ganges, when brought down from heaven by the austerities of Bhagīratha, was forced to flow over earth to follow him to the lower regions. In its course it inundated the sacrificial ground of king Jahnu, who being angry drank up its waters. But the gods and sages, and particularly Bhagīratha, appeased his anger, and he consented to discharge those waters from his ears. The river is therefore regarded as his daughter, and is styled जाह्नवी, जह्नुतनया, -कन्या, -सुता, -नन्दिनी etc.; Compare R.8.95. जह्नोः कन्यां सगरतनयस्वर्गसोपान- पङ्क्तिम् Me.52.
Derived forms and compounds
